Totem Defender is a fantastic mod for protecting your structures. You craft them from Totem Wood from Totem Trees. Once you’re ready to craft, they come in four tiers and are vastly upgradable adding projectiles, fire and poison defenses, and the ability to filter certain mobs and enemies.

Upgrade items level depend on totem level: It’s not possible to use level 2 items for level 1 totem, but possible use level 1 items for level 2 totem. This would work well for balance.